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8/28/2018 - Etzanoa: Uncovering the Great Settlement, a First Thursday Presentation

For centuries it lay buried beneath the Kansas soil, holding its secrets and waiting. It waits no more. Join Dr. Donald Blakeslee as he discusses this exciting archeological discovery. Spaniards called it the Great Settlement, while a native name for the town was Etzanoa. This ancient settlement in southern Kansas was home to more than 20,000 ancestral Wichita Native American people.

Blakeless will share why he decided to look for this city and how he gathered and deciphered clues. He'll also share information about the initial dig and what they've found so far, as he works to uncover one of the largest Native American cities in North America. Blakeslee is an author and professor of archeology at Wichita State University.

This free presentation is hosted by the Smoky Hill Museum on Thursday, September 6, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To accommodate a larger crowd, the presentation will be held at the First United Methodist Church's Fellowship Hall, 122 N. Eighth Street, just across Iron Avenue from the Museum.

The Smoky Hill Museum is a nationally accredited history museum, in the heart of downtown Salina, Kansas. This FREE museum is open Tuesday-Friday 12-6 and Saturday 10-5. Also, be sure to stop by the Museum Store for a wide variety of regional and Kansas products, local artwork and gifts for all ages.